N = Nutrition - Fats

Is fat a part of a healthy diet? Yes, indeed it is! Your body requires fat for various bodily functions. There are several types of fats, and you’ve probably heard of them, including: saturated fat, which is typically found in animal products, and is typically hard at room temperature; monounsaturated fat and polyunsaturated fat, which are found in vegetables and vegetable oils, and are typically liquid at room temperature; and the infamous trans fat which is formed when vegetable oils are processed into margarine or shortening.

And then, there’s cholesterol. What do you think? Do avocadoes have cholesterol? Before I answer that, I want you to take your right hand, put it just below your waist on your right side, and that’s where your liver is. Now, the liver is the only organ that produces cholesterol. So, anything with a face or a mother produces cholesterol. Your dog, Spot, produces cholesterol. A chicken produces cholesterol, and you produce cholesterol. So then, does an avocado contain cholesterol? Not a chance. It does contain saturated fat, however, as do coconuts and palm oil.

When it comes to fats, a little goes a long way, and there are some fats that are healthier than others. When the fat comes from natural plant sources such as avocadoes, nuts, seeds, and olives, those are healthy choices. Eating saturated fats and trans fat raises your blood cholesterol levels and increases your risk for heart disease and various other diseases.

When you’re shopping, be a smart consumer. Many processed foods have some degree of trans fats in them. Read the labels and leave items that are high in fat, trans fat or cholesterol where they belong – on the grocery shelf.

Visit the following links to some really great websites for more in-depth information on using fats in your every-day eating: